Connell (Carolina Reapers 3)

“I’ve never had a one night stand or anything. I’ve had feelings—friendship or otherwise—for every man I’ve brought to my bed.” Her hands flexed in her skirt again.

“I wouldn’t think less of you for any choice you’ve made—”

“No, you don’t get it.” She turned toward me. “None of them were like...you.”

“Scottish?” I teased.

She arched a brow. “None of them were professional athletes—”

“Well, we’re kind of rare. Except around here. Jesus, there are professional athletes all up and down this street—”

“Connell!” She snapped, but there was a lift to her lips. “Be serious for a moment.”

“I’m always serious when it comes to you,” I said softly. When I reached for her, she stepped back.

“I like the predictable guys. The ones with five-year plans and sensible shoes. The ones who follow the rules. I like my men safe and dependable, and—”

“Boring,” I interjected.

“Sure, if that’s what you call it.” She folded her arms under her breasts, pushing the creamy globes to the neckline of her dress.

Every intention I’d had not to think about getting my mouth on her flew out the window.

“You… you are none of those things. You’re wild and unpredictable, and you couldn’t care less about rules. You’re downright reckless, which is completely and utterly terrifying because you might be reckless with me.”

My entire body tensed, but I kept my mouth shut, waiting for her to say her piece.

“And there’s part of me that doesn’t even care, which is even scarier! I have my life in perfect order, and then you run out of your house—naked—with the most incredible body I’ve ever seen and these eyes that melt me like butter on a warm muffin, and this accent. God, your accent really isn’t fair! And you’re funny and a little irreverent, to be honest, but you make me feel alive.”

“And this is a bad thing?” I asked slowly, still hung up on the fact that she liked my body and my eyes. Sure, the body was a tool for my career, but I’d never been so willing to use it as a weapon to break down a woman’s defenses before. I’d never had to.

“It’s a very bad thing because you go back to being a hotshot NHL star in a couple of weeks, and I’ll still be Annabelle Clarke, city clerk for Sweet Water. You have the power to completely turn my life upside down, and you already have!”

“Lass, I’ve never stopped being an NHL star, and I’m quite mad over the city clerk of Sweet Water. That all sounds pretty perfect to me.” Trying to keep my hands off her, I went to stick my hands in my pockets only to realize my sweatpants didn’t have them. Smooth.

“God, won’t you listen to what I’m saying? No, you just stand there in your t-shirt that I want to yank off and those sweatpants that aren’t hiding much, let me tell you. And you’re so you that I’m a puddle before you even touch me. Do you have any idea how much I want you?” If there wasn’t so much turmoil in her eyes, I would have laughed.

“I have a pretty good idea because I’m in the same boat.” I’d been living on the edge of need and madness for weeks.

“Oh no. I have it bad. I dream about you. I fantasize about you while I’m in the shower. I daydream about your hands and your mouth, and the way you kiss. I couldn't even be around you this week because I was afraid I’d jump you in the middle of the office right in front of Lacy! I don’t do this! I don’t do crazy, wild lust and irresponsible choices, and that’s all I want to do—make wild, lustful, crazy, irresponsible choices with you.”

My cock was hard as the wood of my headboard before she was finished. That same wild lust she described clawed through my veins, demanding appeasement. I wanted this woman more than I wanted my next meal. She was my next meal.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?” She had the nerve to pop out one of her hips and glare up at me.

“I was waiting until you finished.” Each of my breaths were measured as I fought to keep my feet right where they were.

“Oh.” Her lips formed that perfect little shape and stayed parted.

“Are you finished?”

“Um…yes. I think so.” She tugged her lower lip between her teeth, and I nearly growled.

“Good. Because I’m going to count to three. And once I reach three, I’m going to carry ye to my bed, strip ye naked, and fuck ye until we’re both come so many times that we’re too exhausted to move. That’s how badly I want ye, Annabelle. Do you understand?”

She blinked a few times but finally nodded. “I understand.”

“Good. Ye want rules? I don’t have them. Ye want calm and boring? Then ye need to walk out that door because I want ye too badly to make myself leave. I might not be the safe choice, but I can promise that you’ll always be safe with me. Annabelle, I’m serious. If you don’t want this—if you don’t want me inside that beautiful body, then you have to walk away.”